ASHLEY Young has expressed his pride at being given the “massive honour” of wearing Villa’s captain’s armband for parts of the season.

Young has handed responsibility back to Stiliyan Petrov since the club skipper’s recent return to the first team.

But the winger-cum-attacker, who looks increasingly likely to leave this summer, insists it has been a privilege to lead Villa on the field this season.

Young has been made captain by Gerard Houllier in Petrov’s absence, even though vice-skipper Nigel Reo-Coker has been in the team.

But the England international insists that he and his claret and blue colleagues feel like leaders regardless of who has the armband.

“Being given the captaincy was a massive honour for me and it’s a proud moment every time I put on the captain’s armband,” he said.

“Obviously Stan’s back in the team and I’m grateful for a captain like him.

“But whenever we go out on the pitch there’s always 11 leaders and 11 captains.

“Everybody talks to each other, we’ve got great team spirit and great character in the squad.

“One person’s got the armband, but there are 11 of us out there looking to take responsibility and to take the club forward and that’s what we’ve got to keep doing.”

Young prefers to lead by example rather than as a ranting and raving skipper, but admits the captaincy has failed to curb his moments of petulance towards officials

“Whether I’ve changed or not I’m not too sure, I’ve not seen it in myself,” he added.